We are thrilled to announce the Fuller Craft Museum’s acquisition of two significant sculptures by the pioneering Bay Area artist Bella Feldman (1930–2024): Mari (2002) and Mighty Mouse (2002). These works, created during a prolific period in Feldman’s career, represent two distinct yet dialogue-heavy series: the meditative Flasks of Fiction and the provocative War Toys.

1. Mari (2002)
Mari belongs to Feldman’s celebrated Flasks of Fiction series. Inspired by the hanging lanterns she encountered in Turkish mosques, this wall-mounted sculpture evokes a sense of sacred weight.

• The Form: A frosted, teardrop-shaped glass vessel is cradled by a minimalist steel harness. The glass appears to "sag" under its own weight, suggesting a body held in a state of graceful restraint.
• The Theme: It explores the relationship between the container and the contained, a recurring motif in Feldman’s work that speaks to the constraints society places on the individual.

2. Mighty Mouse (2002)
In sharp contrast, Mighty Mouse is a standout from her War Toys series: a body of work born from her reaction to the mechanized violence of the Gulf War.

• The Form: This piece features a bulbous glass "body" pierced by a sharp, conical steel "nose" and set upon a wheeled chassis. The inclusion of wheels suggests a toy-like mobility, yet the spiked, aggressive metal components render the object threatening.
• The Irony: The title Mighty Mouse injects a dose of Feldman's signature dark humor, miniaturizing the machinery of war into something that is simultaneously absurd, impotent, and dangerous.